Avalanche Signs Forsberg

Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Returns To Colorado

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Peter Forsberg for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. The former Hart Trophy winner has decided to try an NHL comeback after practicing with the Avalanche since Jan. 22. He is expected to join the team and be available to play at some point on their upcoming road trip.

“We’re proud to announce that Peter will be back in an Avalanche sweater,” said Avalanche General Manager/Executive Vice President Greg Sherman. “Peter believes he can compete at the NHL level based on how his workouts went. He will provide additional leadership to our club and he will have an impact with this young team.”

“After testing my abilities with NHL players over the last few weeks, I feel confident that I can play at the NHL level and help this team,” said Forsberg. “I wanted to see where I was at physically and I am ready for this new challenge.”

Forsberg, 37, helped the Avalanche win two Stanley Cup championships during his 11 seasons with the franchise. He captured the 2003 Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP after leading the league with 106 points (29g/77a) in 75 games that year. The Ornskoldsvik, Sweden native also earned the Art Ross Trophy in 2003, won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year in 1994-95, was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team on three occasions (1997-98, 1998-99 and 2002-03) and was selected to seven NHL All-Star Games.

Overall, Forsberg has tallied 885 points (249g/636a) in 706 regular season games with Quebec/Colorado, Philadelphia and Nashville. He ranks 10th all-time in points-per-game (1.25) and fourth in assists-per-game (.901). Only Wayne Gretzky (1.320), Mario Lemieux (1.129) and Bobby Orr (.982) averaged more assists per game during their NHL careers. He also averages better than a point-per-game in the playoffs, tallying 171 points (64g/107a) in 151 postseason games.

Selected sixth overall by Philadelphia in the 1991 Entry Draft, Forsberg was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques on June 30, 1992. He currently stands fourth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list with 755 points (217g/538a) in 589 career games. Forsberg ranks second in franchise history in playoff scoring with 159 points (58g/101a) in 140 career postseason contests.

Forsberg has helped his native Sweden capture two Olympic gold medals, 1994 and 2006. All-in-all, he represented his country at four Olympics, five World Championships, two World Cups of Hockey and two World Junior Championships.